A former federal employee has pleaded guilty in New Orleans after prosecutors said he agreed to take $250,000 in bribes to steer transportation contracts to a Georgia businessman.

U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser’s office said 48-year-old Erick Martin pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to commit bribery. He faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced April 27.

Martin was a civilian employee of the United States Marines Corps Marine Forces Reserves Distribution Management Office in New Orleans. Prosecutors say the bribery scheme resulted in nearly $2 million in contracts being corruptly awarded.

Court records state that Martin was responsible for coordinating bus transportation for reserve forces. Another man charged in the case, Daniel Fitzpatrick, worked for a transportation brokerage company in Atlanta and had started his own such company.

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